Coconut oil pulling for better health

Get a teaspoon or 2 of coconut oil and swish it around your mouth for 20 mins. Intrigued ? Dang ! yes !….it is called coconut oil pulling.

I have been meaning to write about the virtues of cooking with coconut oil . I use it on everything like I would olive oil . I stir fry my vegetables with it and add it to my warm porrige in the morning . The health benefits are many and the taste is delicious. From preventing or reversing Alzheimers , to moisturing your skin and hair, to lowering blood sugar and cholesterol, to support healthy thyroid function, it’s high lauric acid and MCFA content helps boost metabolism ,it is better for high-temperature cooking than olive or vegetable oils, a tablespoon taken before each meal can help improve digestion ,and taken daily it can increase mental alertness….on and on the list is long

What I did not know was that if your swish it around your mouth every morning for 15 to 20 minutes it can boost your immune system amongst other things . Oil pulling, or oil swishing is an ancient Ayurvedic technique, touted by yogis as a natural way to strengthen the immune system by killing toxic yeast that makes its way from your stomach to mouth while you sleep . It will also make your teeth white and will strengthen the gums.

I have spent five days coughing and I am feeling very run down and on the verge of coming down with a major cold , so following my friend Young Kim’s advice I tried it myself this morning. It is easy ! Just make sure that you have organic virgin coconut oil because it will be high in lauric acid which is what kills the germs.

To oil pull, simply swish your choice of unrefined, high quality oil in your mouth; similar to the way you would use a mouthwash. My favorite is coconut . This can be done anywhere from five to 20 minutes. The process attracts and removes bacteria, toxins, and parasites that live in your mouth or lymph system, and also pulls congestion and mucus from your throat and loosens up your sinuses, which is amazing! With the help of your saliva, all these scary undesirables bind with the oil, ready to be disposed of. Pulling also helps re-mineralize your teeth and strengthen your gums by thoroughly cleansing the area. This sounds good, right? But how exactly do you do it?

To start, scoop ½ to 1 full tablespoon of oil into the mouth; if it’s cold, allow the oil to melt. Now push, swirl, and pull the oil between your teeth, around your gums, and allow it to touch every part of your mouth except your throat. You don’t want the oil getting in contact with your throat because it’s now carrying somewhat toxic material. No gargling!

Once your time pulling is over, spit into the trash or toilet, but never the sink — the oil could solidify and clog your drain. Now rinse your mouth out with clean water two or three times. Finally, drink a glass of water and relax. You should be feeling fresh and rejuvenated.

Why oil pull ? A popular reason for oil pulling is to find relief from congestion in the sinuses and throat. It is unbelievable how quickly this happens! Immediately after rinsing, you will find yourself blowing your nose and clearing your throat. I have worked with people struggling with chronic sinus congestion who experienced relief unlike anything else, after oil pulling only once! Their condition improved and the congestion eventually went away completely.

Oil pulling can be done at any time of the day, but for a more thorough detox, its best to do this in the morning, before eating or drinking. If you are having a hard time fitting oil pulling into your routine, I’ve found a nice time to do this is while in the shower. This way, you aren’t counting the clock until the minutes are up; simply spit when your shower is done.